Tag Archives: casino

Royal Caribbean, MSC further restrict smoking

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Royal Caribbean, MSC further restrict smoking

By Tom Stieghorst
Two cruise lines have announced new restrictions on smoking.

Royal Caribbean International has done away with smoking on stateroom balconies, leaving Norwegian Cruise Line as the only major holdout.

In addition, Royal Caribbean extended its ban on smoking to almost all indoor areas except the casino, which will have a designated nonsmoking section.

However, on select cruises departing from China, a nonsmoking section in the casino will not be available.

Smoking is allowed in the cigar bars on Freedom- and Voyager-class ships and in The Vault, a nightclub on Voyager of the Seas.

The changes take effect starting Jan. 1.

Separately, MSC Cruises said that starting Nov. 2, when the MSC Divina departs Venice on a repositioning cruise to Miami, it will limit smoking on that ship to the Cigar Lounge and the port side of designated outdoor decks.

Smoking won’t be permitted in the Top Sail or Black & White lounges or in the MSC Yacht Club area.

In addition, the casino will become nonsmoking, although MSC said the casino manager at his discretion may allow some players to smoke in clearly designated areas.

Divina is scheduled to sail year round from Miami.

Royal Caribbean Smoking Policy Change

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Smoking Policy Change effective 1 January 2014
Dear valued guest,

In consideration of ongoing guest feedback and evolving industry standards, Royal Caribbean International is revising its onboard smoking policy, effective for all sailings departing on or after 1 January 2014.

Under this new policy, all indoor public spaces will be smoke free, with the exception of the Casino and the Connoisseur Club on Freedom and Voyager Class ships. In the Casino, there will be designated smoking and non-smoking areas.

Additionally, smoking will not be permitted in the staterooms or on stateroom balconies. Outdoor smoking areas will be designated on the starboard side of all ships.

Indoor smoking areas permit electronic cigarettes. Cigars and pipe tobacco can be enjoyed in designated outdoor areas, or in the cigar club on the ships that offer this venue.

Please consult our Smoking Policy FAQ for more details.

Royal Caribbean International is committed to continually enhancing the guest holidays experience. To find smoking venues and areas while onboard, please consult your Cruise Compass, or visit Guest Services, where we will be happy to assist you. Thank you and we look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

Royal Caribbean International

Viking Ocean Cruises: No casino, no formal nights and no NCFs

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By Tom Stieghorst

VikingStar-renderBEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Viking Ocean Cruises will be defined as much by what it is not as by what it is, and one of the things it won’t have is a noncommissionable fare (NCF), Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen said.

Hagen unveiled the details of his project to expand Viking River Cruises into ocean cruising at a function for travel agents and past passengers here on Thursday.

In a Q&A session moderated by McCabe World Travel President Anne Morgan Scully, Hagen said he will continue the practice of his river cruise line of not charging NCFs when Viking Ocean Cruises debuts in 2015.

“We don’t nickel and dime customers, and we shouldn’t nickel and dime travel agents either,” Hagen said.

Hagen also said ocean cruise lines are trying too hard to be all things to all people. Viking Ocean will be squarely aimed at couples age 55 and older, he said. There will be no third- and fourth-berth accommodations for families.

There will be no casino. Hagen said the plan is to spend an average of 12.1 hours in port each day, so there will be no time for gambling. Each cruise will have just one sea day.

Appearing before an audience of about 300 at the posh Beverly Hills Hilton in a suit with an open shirt, Hagen also said there will be no formal nights and no need to wear a tie.

And, there will be no surcharges in the ship’s specialty restaurants. Reservations preference will be determined by cabin category.

Hagen said the ship’s best food will be reserved for the main dining venue, The Restaurant.

Travel agents interrupted Hagan several times with applause and appeared enthusiastic about the new line.

“You can sell it,” Vicky Garcia, Cruise Planners’ chief operating officer, said of Viking Cruises in general. “This is such an innovative company. They’re not stuck in the old ways of doing things. They’re nimble.”

In addition to building the 928-passenger Viking Star, Viking expects to take delivery of 10 more Longship river cruise vessels this year and 12 in 2014. It also has a firm order for a second ocean ship for delivery in 2016.